Born:

John Christian Griess, Jr., age 85, of Oak Ridge passed away Friday June 20, 2008 at his home.
Mr. Griess was born July 13, 1922 in Mount Vernon, Indiana to the late John C. and Margarit Maurer Griess. A veteran of the U.S. Army John moved to Oak Ridge 64 years ago where he was employed with Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a chemist/corrosion engineer and was a witness to two nuclear bomb tests in the Bikini Islands as related to the Manhattan Project. A member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church he served as a Lector and was co-coordinator for the CCW Outreach food pantry. A member of one of the first Oak Ridge City Councils he also volunteered in the community as a church league basketball coach and was very active with the Boy Scouts of America with all four of his sons achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. John was a member of Friends of ORNL and also enjoyed his time volunteering with meals on wheels and as a tour guide for AMSE of DOE Plants.
Preceded in death by his parents and a baby sister. John is survived by his wife Margaret Slusser Griess of Oak Ridge, four sons; John C. Griess, III and his wife Judy of Farragut, TN, Martin Griess and his wife Sue of Wilmington, NC, Stephen Griess and his wife Patti of Skandia, MI, and Daniel Griess and his wife Sharon of Chattanooga, TN, three daughters Ann Hutchings of Summerland Key, FL, Mary Morgan and husband James of Belews Creek, NC, and Jane Griess and husband Gordon Sloane of Rincon, GA, brother Simon Griess and wife Wanda of Mt. Vernon, IN, brother-in-law Father Michael Slusser, sister-in-law Elizabeth and husband Matt Kelly, grandchildren; Julie Remke, Taylor Griess, Sean Griess, Tyler Griess, Jennifer Collins, Jason Griess, Jerry Collins, and Kim Lee, Great grandchildren; Abby Remke, Zachary Collins, Chase Collins, Ben Lee, Drew Lee, and Katie Lee.
A funeral mass will be held Monday June 23, 2008 10:00am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father William McKenzie, Father Michael Slusser, and Father Michael Woods officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00am at the church. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church 327 Vermont Ave. Oak Ridge, TN 37830.